Take your pick: Can you settle for a concierge to elevate your next cruise or do you need a genie to make your vacation magical? The choice is yours when you book a suite that’s part of Royal Caribbean’s Royal Suite class. Show
On Oasis- and Quantum-class ships, your suite booking comes with a host of perks that vary based on the Royal Suite-class tier your cabin falls under. The amenities range from in-cabin bathrobes and name-brand toiletries to an exclusive restaurant and personal assistant. Some suites include Wi-Fi, specialty dining, tips and a beverage package wrapped into the cruise fare. For cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG’s cruise newsletter. The effect is to create a little slice of luxury living on a mass-market ship sailing with thousands of passengers on board. VIP privileges help smooth the wrinkles of jockeying for reservations, seats and head-of-the-line positions, so you can enjoy every moment of your trip. You might need that genie to help you figure out which suites come with which perks on which ships. Here, I’ll take you through the ins and outs of Royal Caribbean’s Royal Suite class for the next time you want to make your cruise vacation extra special. Wonder of the Seas' suite sun deck provides a private escape for Royal Suite-class guests. (Photo courtesy of Royal Caribbean)What is Royal Caribbean’s Royal Suite class?The Royal Suite class divides Royal Caribbean’s top suites into three categories: Sea, Sky and Star. Sea is the lowest tier, Sky is the middle tier and Star is the highest tier; the names go in order from lowest to the ground to way up in the heavens, to match their level of inclusions. Which suites fall into each Royal Suite-class category?Royal Suite class is only found on the newest and biggest ships. These include:
Among those ships, here are the suite categories that fall under each tier. Sea class
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Sky class
Star Class
What are the Royal Suite-class benefits?All Royal Suite-class suites are tricked out with bathrobes for use on board, a Lavazza espresso coffee maker and upgraded toiletries. On my recent Wonder of the Seas cruise in a Grand suite, the toiletries were Malin + Goetz-brand shampoo, conditioner, body wash and lotion in large pump bottles (so you can’t stick them in your luggage before you disembark). You’re also entitled to a dedicated check-in line on embarkation day. All suite guests can eat dinner at Coastal Kitchen, the exclusive suite restaurant, but you must make reservations in advance. Related: Reasons you should splurge on a suite for your next cruise Move up to Sky class, and the perks and inclusions get even better. You’ll get VIP treatment, such as concierge service, flexible arrival times (an hour earlier or later than your check-in time) and priority disembarkation, priority dining reservations and reserved group seating in certain entertainment venues, such as the main theater and ice skating rink. On my Wonder of the Seas cruise, the concierge personally escorted us off the ship, holding elevators, skipping us ahead of the general scrum to scan our SeaPass cards and exit, and pointing out exactly where our bags were located. Sky-class passengers also get access to exclusive venues, such as the Coastal Kitchen restaurant for three meals a day, suite lounge with complimentary evening drinks and snacks, and the suite sun deck. Room service is free of charge 24/7. On Wonder of the Seas, I truly appreciated the suite lounge and concierge service. It was my first time on an Oasis-class ship, and a lot of advance reservations were not available on the inaugural sailing of the ship. The concierges were brilliant at getting me a table the first day the new Mason Jar restaurant was open for brunch, and making reservations for all the shows we wanted to see. My daughter and I loved to pop into the suite lounge to grab a pastry, snack or drink; it was more convenient than room service, when you never knew when or what was going to show up. I found Coastal Kitchen to be several steps above the main dining room in terms of food quality and service, and I regret not eating more meals there. Every person booked into a Sky-class suite also gets a free “Surf + Stream” internet package for one device. That meant I could get work done while my daughter watched "Encanto" for the thousandth time on Disney+. You also get one bottle of water on arrival, but that pales in comparison to the rest of the perks! How is Star class different?Star class is where the magic happens. In addition to all the aforementioned perks, passengers booked into the largest, most expensive suites receive complimentary specialty restaurant dining, a Deluxe beverage package (for all guests 21 and older) or Refreshment package (for anyone not legal to drink), minibar stocked with soda and water, laundry and pressing, and gratuities. The suites will feature luxury-brand mattresses and pillows, topped with Frette linens, and have still and sparkling water replenished each day. You’ll receive expedited boarding and departure, priority entrance to shipboard activities and the best seats reserved specifically for you at many onboard entertainment venues. Related: 5 of the world's best cruise ship suites However, the best Star-class amenity is the Royal Genie, a personal butler who will go above and beyond to enhance your vacation at sea. I’ve sailed on luxury ships, where butlers basically offer to unpack your bags and bring you afternoon canapes, but otherwise seem like a glorified room steward. Not so with the Royal Genie. All Royal Genies will help you plan your cruise in advance, snagging your preferred reservations at restaurants and activities, and adjusting these plans in real time as your cruise unfolds and things come up. They will personally escort your travel party on and off the ship. Beyond that, what your Royal Genie can do for you depends a lot on what you ask for. Think about bringing any food from any restaurant to your suite for in-room or balcony dining. Maybe it’s throwing a party for a special occasion or for friends your meet on board. The Genie can supervise your kids at the buffet while you have a date night meal or plan a special day in port. He or she might surprise you with popcorn when you decide to have an in-cabin movie night, bring you daily Starbucks or leave little gifts for you to find. Even cruisers who are low maintenance, or feel awkward having a crew member follow them around all day long, report getting used to the unobtrusive-yet-ever-present service of a Genie, and say it really makes their sailing special. The best Star-class amenity is the Royal Genie, a personal butler who will go above and beyond to enhance your vacation at sea. (Photo courtesy of Royal Caribbean)Is the Royal Suite class worth it?Now that’s a question without a right or wrong answer. Are the perks valuable and useful? You bet. Are the suites spacious and upscale? Yep. Is it worth the price? Well, now, that depends ... When I checked, fares for a Royal Loft suite on a weeklong Christmas 2023 sailing on Oasis of the Seas started at more than $20,000 ... per person (based on double occupancy). The same cabin a few weeks later costs nearly $11,000 per person. On a four-night Bahamas cruise on Allure of the Seas, the suite costs $4,000 per person. That’s quite the price range. Related: Why it pays to upgrade your cruise ship cabin If you want the most affordable cruise, Royal Suite class is not worth the money. If you're willing to pay whatever it costs for a luxury experience and VIP treatment on a tricked-out megaship with all the restaurants and onboard attractions, it’s definitely worth it. You might find you’re willing to splurge for a once-in-a-lifetime trip, like a honeymoon, but not for an ordinary vacation. Perhaps you’re willing to pay for a lower-tier suite with some but not all the perks, or are willing to patiently scour all the sailings to find a Star-class suite with a lower-than-average fare. I can’t imagine anyone regretting the vacation they had in a Royal Suite-class cabin. However, you might regret all the things you have to give up (new car, dinners out, shopping trips) to afford that suite. Only you can decide how you want to spend your discretionary budget. Planning a Royal Caribbean cruise? Learn more with these stories:
Featured photo courtesy of Royal Caribbean. Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. What is included with a grand suite on Allure of the Seas?These suites include two twin beds that convert into a Royal King, measuring 72.5 inches wide by 82 inches long. The living area for each suite includes a sofa bed and an entertainment system with a flat-screen TV.
Do you get the drink package with a grand suite on Royal Caribbean?You don't get a drinks package if you book a Grand Suite with Royal Caribbean, so you will need to pay for your drinks normally. You do get complimentary cocktails every evening if you visit the Suite Lounge on board, but all other alcoholic drinks must be paid for.
What perks come with owners suite on Royal Caribbean?There are a number of benefits of booking a suite on a Royal Caribbean ship. All suite guests enjoy priority boarding, as well as luxury bathroom amenities, a Royal Caribbean bathrobe (for onboard use only) and an espresso coffee machine.
Do Royal Caribbean suite guests get free room service?Sky-class passengers also get access to exclusive venues, such as the Coastal Kitchen restaurant for three meals a day, suite lounge with complimentary evening drinks and snacks, and the suite sun deck. Room service is free of charge 24/7.
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Allure of the seas grand suite perks
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